USTA Statement on Possible COVID-19 Transmission on Tennis Balls
December 11, 2020
ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 11, 2020) — The USTA released the following statement regarding possible COVID-19 transmission on tennis balls:
Question: Is there any research which identified the potential for COVID-19 to be transmitted on tennis balls?
Answer: A recent study determined that the surface of sports balls, notably football, golf, cricket, and tennis balls, are unlikely to harbor SARS-CoV-2 in a manner that is compatible with risk of developing COVID-19 from handling the ball during normal play. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) Sport Science and Medicine Commission, the USTA Sport Science Committee, and the USTA Medical Advisory Group support this conclusion.